More than 200 New York City Firefighters and US Marines
took part today in a scenario which simulated the release
of a Bio-Chem agent. The drill, dubbed "Operation Safe
Rock II", was held at the FDNY Fire Academy located
on Randall’s Island. The exercise comes after a week-long
training session in which members of FDNY trained 120 C-BIRF
(Chemical Biological Incident Response Force) Marines in
search, rescue, high angle ropes, and mask operations, and
the Marines,
in turn, shared their expertise on weapons of mass destruction
with FDNY. Each specific topic covered during the week played
a significant role in the exercise. The victims in the drill
were played by 150 probationary firefighters currently training
at the fire academy.

“The joint training between our firefighters and the
US Marines shows how we as a city and country are better
equipped to handle the new types of threats we face in this
post 9-11
world,” said Commissioner Scoppetta. "The sharing
of knowledge and tactics, as well as the cooperation between
these two partners in homeland defense, are key elements
in the protection of the people and first responders of the
City
of New York."

This is not the first time members of the FDNY and C-BIRF
have utilized each other’s expertise in their respective
fields. Twice before 9-11, joint-training sessions between
C-BIRF and FDNY took place involving similar objectives. These
training exercises are not only meant to better train firefighters
and Marines, but also to familiarize each unit with one another.
C-BIRF is one of the only units in the United States Military
that utilizes the Incident Command System. At an emergency
scene, they would be under the command of the Chief Officer,
deemed the Incident Commander, and work side by side with
local emergency responders.

C-BIRF was formed in the spring of 1996 to provide the United
States Marine Corps with the capabilities for agent detection
and identification, casualty search, rescue, personnel and
civilian decontamination and emergency medical care. They
are based in Indianhead, Maryland, and respond to chemical,
biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive
incidents worldwide. They were activated in response to the
anthrax attacks that took place in the Washington D.C. area
following September 11.

The scenario was as follows:

A USMC C-BIRF team is in New York City on standby for a
planned event. A major release of a Bio-Chem agent occurs
and causes the mass-contamination of civilians. The release
incurs a Hazardous Material response by FDNY. Mission Commander
of the C-BIRF unit offers the assistance of his unit. The
FDNY Incident Commander then requests that C-BIRF assist in
the handling of rescue, technical rescue, hazard identification
and the mass decontamination of civilians involved.